Thermally responsive device



Oct. 12, 194.. F. B FlLLo 2,331,464 THERMALLY REsPosIvE DEVICE Filed Nov. 14, 1940 INVENToR FRANC/s E. F/LLO -mlally responsive devices Patented :Oct 12, 19,43 Y

Francis 13. Fillo, Webster Groves, Mo. Application November 14, 1940, Serial No. 365,620

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in.

thermally responsive devices. More particularly, vthe invention relates to improvements in therusing expansible housings.V

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved expansible housing for thermally responsive devices. 1

Thermally responsive devices that use an expansiblerhousing have been known and used for many years. These devices usually consist of a feeler bulb and any expansible housing that are connected by.a tube. The feeler bulb, the expansible housing, and the .connecting tube are iilled with a thermally responsive fluid. Whenever the thermally responsive fluid is subjected to changes in temperature, its volume changes a good deal. Thisl Achange in the volume of the fluid can be used tomove'a portion of the expansible housing. -The movement of a portion of the expansible housing may in turn be used to actuate a lever controlled heating or cooling system. Expansible` housings may, therefore, be

referred to as actuating elements. By position- -ing the feeler bulb of a thermally responsive device in a compartment that is to be heated or cooled, the temperature of the compartment may be controlled. In all ordinary cases, this type f thermally responsive device will accurately cntrol the .temperature in the compartment. In some cases, however, the temprature surrounding the expansible housing will materially affect the operation of the thermally responsive device.

Where, for instance, the thermally responsive device is used to regulate a heating system that The decrease in thetemperature `at the feeler bulb results in a decrease in volume of the thermally rsponsiveuid therein, which should permit a contraction of a portion of the housing and a stopping of the flow of cooling medium. i

If the housing is surrounded by hot air, the expansion of the iluid therein may equal-the contraction of the uid in the feelerbulb and preventa contraction of a portiony of the housing.

If the expansible housing is surrounded by cold air, the fluid in the housing may contract suf.-

ciently to permit actuatiorrof the lever controlled cooling system. It can be seen, therefore, that in certain .casesy ordinary thermally responsive devices will not operate the lever system, with which they are used, in response to the temperature at the feeler bulb. This condition can materially aifect the accuracy of .operation -of the device, and thereby make its use somewhat objectionable. The invention obviates the objection outlined above, by providing an f i actuating member that is arranged to compenis nto maintain the temperature in a compartment at a desired level, the heating or the cooling of the expansible housing will prevent the accurate control of the temperature inthe compartment. If the expansible housing is heated, the fluid in the housing will expand and cause expansion of a portion of the housing. yThisexpansion may be sufhcient to actuate the lever controlled heating system and cut olf the heat,

although the temperature in the compartmentv is below the desiredv level. On the other hand, where the expansible housing is cold, the fluid therein will contract and prevent an actuation of the lever controlled heating system when the temperature in the compartment reaches the desired level. \Where the thermally responsive device is arranged to control a cooling system, thatis, to maintain the temperature in a compartment at a desired level, the ambient temnerature at the housing is also cuite important.

sate the thermally responsive device of which it is an element, for the effect of ambient teml perature at the member. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention torprovide a compensated actuating member.

It isY sometimes desirable to compensate 'for the effect of ambient temperature on the lever systemA actuated by a thermally responsive device. If the ambient temperature is high enough,

parts of the lever system may expand and cause an actuation of the system although the temperature at the feeler bulb is belowl the desired' level. Such actuation makes the operation of the thermally responsive device inaccurate. The invention obviates this objection by providing an expansible housing for thermally responsive devices that compensates for the effect of ambient temperature on the lever system used with it.

The problem of compensating thermally responsive devices of this sortis not new, and various forms have been made which have had aI compensating feature therein. One of these forms consistsof an actuating -element thatis associated with a bimetallic element. This association is such that any movement of the actuating element or expansible. housing caused by ambient temperature, is compensated forv by a movement in the opposite direction of the bi-A metallie element. Such a form is workable and can be made to operate very eifectively, but it is expensive to make. In addition, such a, form can only be used to advantage with lever systems that are lightly loaded because the pressure that not entirely satisfactory. The invention obviates the objections outlined above,y by providing a simple thermally responsive device having an actuating member which has an ambient temperature compensation feature incorporated in vthe member itself. i

Other objects and advantages of theyinventio'n will appear from the drawing and accompanying description.

A preferred and a modified form of the invention` are shown and described in the drawing and accompanying description, Ibut.-it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description do not limit the invention and the invention will be dened by the appended claims.

In the drawing, Y

Fig. 1 isr a perspective view of an expansible housing or actuating element made in accordance "with the yprinciples of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the housing shown in Fig. 1. y

Fig. 3` is a perspectiveview of a modied form of the housing shown in Fig. 1.

f Fig.,4 is a crossl-sectional view of the housing shown in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view ofa thermally responsive device and a lever system with which it may be used.

Referring to the drawing in detail,v a cup-like member is denoted by the numeral Iii; .Thisy action of the springs 34 and 40 to-cause the socket member is preferably made of a metal that has a high thermal 'coeiiicient' of expansion. Any of a number of suitable metals may be used, but brass is preferred because of its very high thermal coemcient of expansion. Positioned telescopically in the cup-like member I0 is a second cup-like member I2. This member is preferably made of a metal that has a relatively low thermal coeillcient of expansion. Such a metal isa stain-I less steel which has a low coefilcient of expansion, ,but any other suitable metal may be used. This cup-like member I2 may beI secured to the cuplike member I0 by silver solder and cooperates with member II) toform an expansibie housing.

In ,the preferred and modied forms of the invention shown in the drawing, the two cup-@like members are secured together by silver solder which seals the'edges of the members. Such a sealing arrangement is quite advantageous but is not an essential part of the invention. This housing is ordinarily used with a leverA system that is actua-ted by movement of the closed end of the inner cup-like member; The outer cuplike member is usually made of heavier material and does'not flex, so any movement in response to pressure is made by the closed end of the inner member.

In Figs. 3 and 4, a modified form ofthe invention is shown. This form of the invention differs from tha-t shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in that the cuplike members have alternate depressions II and raised portions I3thereon. The depressions II and raised portions I3 on the closed ends of the cup-like members serve to stiffen the closed ends. This stiiening of the closed ends of the cup-like members is used where high temperatures are This tube may connect with a feeler bulb I6 which is filled with a thermally responsive fluid. The feeler bulb is positioned in'a chamber, not shown, wherein it is desired to regulate the temperature. If the` thermally'responsive device is used to raise the temperature in. thecharnber to a 'predetermined value, the lever system is arranged so that a predetermined expansion of the fluid in the feeler bulb will shut oil the heat.

. Asponsive device. The thermally responsive device 1 is secured to the casing 22 that contains ythe lever system. The inner cup-.like member ,I2 engages This can be understood by reference to Fig. 5. A lever system that is used to regulate the flow of gas to a stove is shown with a thermally reone end of a lever I8 that is maintained in intimate engagement with the end of cup-like memthe rod 26 to which it is rigidly secured causes a rotation of the transverse lever 24. As the rod 2B rotates, it moves longitudinally because of the engagement between its threaded portion and the threaded portion 32- of the casing22. One end of the socket member 28 engages a spring 84 and a pin 36, andthe othervend of the member 28.engages a valve 88. The engagement between -the transverse lever 24 andthe socket member 28 lis rather-loose,- and it cooperates with the member 28 to iloat The spring 40 bears against formed portions of the casing 22 and mally responsive device is set on the dial 30. The

to be regulated by the thermally responsive movement of the dial determines the position of the transverse lever 24 and thereby determines the amount of movement of the inner cup-like member I2 necessary to actuate the lever system.

When the feeler bulb I8 is heated, the fluid therein will expand. The expansion of the fluid in the feeler bulb will create a vpressure that will be transmitted to -the expansible housing and will cause an expansion of a portion of the housing.A

The expansion of a portion of the housingmoves lever I8 upwardly. The upward 'movement of lever I8 causes the transverse bar 24 to rotate and permit the valve 88 to engage its sea-t 42 and stop the flow of gas through the casing. In this manner, the thermally responsive device shuts off the heat. If an ordinary housing is used, and is exposed to heat, the fluid therein will expand and cause the leverl system to shut off the heatl -1n the chamber although the 'atmosphere in the chambermight be below the desired temperature. If the housing were cold, the lever system would not be operated when the desired temperature in the chamber was reached, because additional degrees of temperature would have to be added to the temperature of the feeler bulb t3 secure suillcient expansion of the fluid therein to compensate for the contraction of the fluid in the housing. If the thermally responsive device is used to control a cooling system that iste maintain the temperature in a chamber at a desired level, the lever system is arranged so that a predetermined amount of contraction of the fluid "v i in the feeler bulb will shut oil' the flow of the cooling medium. Y The contraction. of the fluid in the feeler bulb results in the contraction of the housing and the actuation of the lever system.r

If the housing is surrounded by hot air, thecontraction of the fluid in the feeler bulb may not ,result in a contraction oft-the housing, since the fluid in the housing may expand an amount equal to the contraction of the fluid in the feeler bulb.

In such a case, the temperature in the cham-ber 4 From a study of the above, it can be seeny that expansible housings which are not compensated against the effect of ambient temperature may prevent properoperation of the thermally responsive device.

Where a housing made in accordance with the principles oi. the invention is used on a thermally responsive device, the device will operate strictly according to the temperature around the feeler `bulb, irrespective of i the temperature around the housing. If the housing is heated, the outer member will expand more than the in- 'inner member. By proper selection of the materials from which the cup-like members are made, and by proper dlmensioning of the members, the chamber formed between the members will expand at thesame rate as the fluid therein expands. yIf, therefore, the housing is subjected to heat, the fluid and the ,chamber will expand the same amount and no change in pressure will result because of the heat around the housing. Since the inner cup-like member is made of metal that has a low thermal coefllcient of expansion,

' and since no change in pressure occurs when the cup-like member, each of said cup-like members havinga substantially closedvend, an axially extending'side wall and a substantially open end,-

What I claim is: f 1. In comblnationra lever system that expands `with increases in the temperature thereo a `houslng, thermally responsive fluid in said housing that expands with increases in the temperature thereof, saidhousing comprising a substantially inflexible cup-like member that is made of metal which has a relatively high thermal coefficient of expansion and a second cup-like member that is madev of metal which has a thermal coeiiicient of expansion thatls less than the lthermal coefli-i cient of expansion of the metal in the first said said closed end of said second cup-like member belngsubstantially flexible, said second cup-like member being positioned telescopically inside of the rst said cup-like member and being secured to the first said cup-like member adjacent `the open end thereof in such a manner that a chamber for the thermally responsive fluid is formed between the inner surface of the first cup-like f member and the outer surface of the second c uplike member and so substantial portions of. their side Walls canexpand and contract relative to each other and thereby change the volume of the chamber, said portions of said side walls being' dimensioned axially so changes in thevolume of the housing due to increases in the temperature i of the housing will compensate for the expansion housing is heated, the temperature at the housing cannot cause the actuation of the lever sys-V tem. If the housing ls .cooled by the ambient temperature, the contraction of the fluid therein' will be matched by the contraction of the chamber, and no actuation of the leversystem will occur.` The two cup-like members are preferably soldered together becauseI soldering does not necessitate the use of an expensive jig. The use of an expensive jig is objectionable because such use increases the cost of production. The invention, therefore, preferably uses solderV to secure the two members together.

Proper dimensioning of the cup-like members l0 and l2 is important. By .changing the length of the sides of the cup-like members, the amount of expansion of thechambertherein can be varied. By properly dimensioning the members I0 and I2, it is possible to over-compensate, un-

der-compensate or exactly compensate for the expansion of the liquid in the housing and the expansion of the elements of the lever system. A ,designer can determine in ad'vance what amount of compensation is desirable and can sel cure it by proper dimensioning of the members I0 and I2. Y

It can be seen from the abovethat'by use of the present invention, an expansible housing may in the form ofthe invention without altering or affecting the scope of the' invention.

` be provided for thermally responsive devices that Y of the lever system and for the expansion 0f the thermally responsive fluid in the chamber caused f by said 'increasesin the temperature, means maintaining -the open ends of said members in substantially fixed position, and means maintaining said lever system and said housing in engage-l ment with eachother whereby a movable portionv of the lever system engages and is actuated by the closed end of vsaid second cup-like member.

2. The combination of a lever system that expands with increases in the temperature thereof, an expansible housing to be used therewith and thermally responsive fluid, said housing comprising a substantially inflexible cup-like member that is madeof metal which has a relatively large thermal coeiiicient of expansion, a second cuplike member that is made of metal which vhas a' thermal coeiilcient of expansion that is less than the thermal coeilicient of expansion of the rst Asaid cup-liker member, each of said members having a substantially. closed end, an axially extending'side wall and a substantially open end, said second cup-like member being positioned telescopically in the first said cup-like member and being secured thereto adjacent the open end thereof in such a manner that a chamber fothe thermally responsive fluid is formed between the innersurface of the first cup-like member and the outer surface of the second cup-like member and so substantial portions of the side walls of the members are free to expand and contract relative to each other, said portions of said sidewalls being dimensioned axially so the changes in the volume of the housing due to increases in 'the temperature of the housing will compensate for the expansion of the lever system'and for the expansion of the thermally responsive fluid ln the chamber caused by said increases in the tem- Peral/Ure.

3. A lever system that expands With increases in the temperature thereof, an expansible housing that `is usable with and adapted to actuate the said lever system, thermally responsive fluid, said housing comprising a pair of substantially parallel metallic members that have substantially cylindrical sides extending angularly therefrom, said sides being substantially coextensive 'with eachother and being arranged so the side's of one metallic member telescope inside the sides of the other member, the larger of the said members and the sides extending angularly therefrom being made ofa metal that has a higher thermal coefficient of expansion than the metal from which the other metallic member and its angularly extending sides are made, said angularly extending sides of the said members being secured together adjacent the free en ds thereof to form a chamber for the thermally responsive fluid between the said members and so substantial portions of the angularly extending -sides can expand and contract relative to each other and thereby cause a movement of the said metallic members relative to each other which will cause a change in the volume of the said chamber, one of said members being substantially inflexible and the other of said members having a flexible portion, maintaining said housing and said lever system in engagement with each other whereby a movable portion of the lever system engages and is actuated by the substantially ilexible portion of the housing, said angularly extending sides being dimensioned axially so changes in the volume of the housing due to increases in the temperature of the housing will compensate for the expansion of the lever sys-` tem and the expansion of the thermally responsive fluid in the chamber caused by said increases in the temperature.

4. The combination of a lever system that expands with increases in the temperature thereof, an expansible housing, and thermally responsive fluid, said Iexpansible housing' comprising a substantially cup-like member which has a secondsubstantially cup-like member positioned telescopically therein, each of said members having a substantially closed end, an axially extending side wall and a substantially open end, said first cup-like member being made of metal which has a coeflicient of expansion that is higher than the coefiicient of expansion of the metal in the second cup-like member, said cup-like members being secured together adjacent their open ends to form a chamber between `the outer surface of the second cup-like member and the inner surface of the first said cup-like member and so substantial portions of their side walls are free to expand and contract relative to each other, a portion of said housing being iiexible, and means maintaining said flexible portion in engagement with a portion of the said lever system, said portions of said side walls being dimensioned axially so changes in the volume of the housing due to increases in the temperature of the hous- 5. In combination, a thermally responsive fluid that expands with increases in the temperature thereof and a housing that contains the said fluid and is arranged to expand with the said increases in temperature and thereby compensate for the said expansion of the said iluid, said housing comprising a substantially inflexible cup-like member that is made of metal which has a relatively high thermal lcoeicient of expansion and a second cup-like member that is made of metal which has a thermal coeicient of expansion that is lessl than thevthermal coeihcient of expansionof the metal in the first said cup-like member, each of said cup-like members having a substantially closed end, and an axially extending side wall and a substantially open end, said closed end of said second cup-like member being substantially ilexible, said second cup-like member being positioned telescopically inside of the first-said cup-like member and being secured to the rst said cup-like member adjacent. the open end thereof in such a manner that a chamber for the thermally responsive uid is formed between the inner surface of the first cup-like member and the outer surface of the second cup-like member and so substantial portions of their side walls can expand and contract relative to each other and thereby change the volume of the chamber, said portions of said side walls being dimensioned axially so changes in the -volume of the housing due to increases in the temperature of the housing will compensate for the expansion of the thermally responsive iiuid in the chamber caused by said increases in the-temperature.

v6. The combination of thermally responsive fluid that expands with increases in the temperature thereof and an expansible housing that contains said thermally responsive fluid and is arranged to expand with said increases in temperature, said expansible housing comprising a substantially cup-like member which has a second substantially cup-like member positioned telescopically therein, each of said members having a substantially closed end, an axially extending side wall and a substantially open end, said first cup-like member being made of metal which has a coeiiicient of expansion that is higher than the coeflicient of expansion of the metal in the second cup-like member, said cup-like members being secured together adjacent their open ends to form a chamber between the outer surface of the second cup-like member and the inner surface of the first said cup-like member and so substantial portions of their side walls are free to expand and contract relative to each other, a portion of saidhousing being flexible, said portions of said side walls being dimensionedaxially so changes in the volume of the housing due to increases in the temperature of the housing will compensate for the expansion of the thermally responsive fluid in the chamber caused by said increases in temperature.

FRANCIS B. FILLO. 

